Chapter 716: I Am a Goddess! I Am a Goddess!

For most mothers, discovering their daughter’s beloved to be a deity would be a source of considerable distress. Yet Anno received this revelation with remarkable composure. Even the fact that Lolth was, in a sense, the very reason she had to remain separated from her family for over a decade stirred little within her.

Yet it was Lolth herself who harbored profound remorse over the matter. "Regardless of circumstances, I’ve wronged both you and Isabella," the silver-haired woman sighed, her fingers tracing the ornate tablecloth. "I’ll make amends." As she spoke, Lolth focused intently on the peculiar sensations coursing through her being.

During their conversation, the Divine Kingdom had been flooding her consciousness with fragmented recollections—or rather, restoring what had always been hers. These memories settling into place brought no shock regarding her divine origins. Given the countless clues and enigmatic beings surrounding her, she’d have been more surprised had she not been a goddess in her past existence.

What truly intrigued Lolth was the nature of her divinity. The title "Goddess of Banquets and Jubilation" gave her pause. While "Jubilation" might suggest the typical domain of a succubus deity, the surroundings told a different story. The Divine Kingdom’s current manifestation—endless banquet tables laden with culinary wonders—seemed almost comically wholesome compared to what mortals might expect from a pleasure deity.

This paradox amused her. When mortals imagined a succubus goddess’ realm of "Jubilation," their minds naturally drifted toward carnal indulgences. Yet here stood a never-ending feast hall that could’ve been designed by her present self. The very incongruity confirmed this was indeed her creation—any acquaintance would instantly recognize this peculiar blend of grandeur and practicality as quintessentially Lolth.

"Though certain as I am," she murmured, surveying the infinite tablescape, "I’ve no notion where to begin." The restored memories provided context but no guidance. Her divine artifact awaited reclamation, yet its nature and location remained frustratingly obscure.

Beside her, Anno rose gracefully from her seat. "Nor I," the composed woman admitted, her gaze following the table’s vanishing point in both directions. "Shall we explore?" Her hand hovered above the carved chairback. "Choose a path, and let curiosity be our guide."

Anno proposed this, and Lolth froze momentarily.

"What if we head the wrong way?"

"Then we’ll simply turn back! Besides, following your intuition… I suspect your instincts won’t lead us astray."

"After all… this was once your domain."

At these words, Lolth pondered briefly before rising.

"Let’s proceed to the right then."

As she spoke, the pair began moving alongside the elongated table. Though confronting her past and approaching divine territory, Lolth found herself unexpectedly calm. She maintained a measured pace while Ms. Anno resumed their conversation.

"Considering you were once divine… you must be considerably older than Isabella."

"Why, you’ve even surpassed my own age by centuries."

Lolth acknowledged this with a rueful nod.

"Truthfully, I’d never contemplated this," she admitted with a self-deprecating smile. "Given recent circumstances, I persisted in believing myself seventeen…"

"Now don’t misunderstand—I’m not censuring you," Ms. Anno interjected, waving dismissively. "When I discovered Isabella’s cross-species romance, I anticipated peculiarities… though this temporal aspect exceeds my initial imaginings."

"Your youthful appearance suggests something like… rebirth perhaps?"

Lolth hesitated before responding tentatively:

"Uncertain as I am, my fragmented memories and available clues point toward such a conclusion."

"I retain childhood recollections from seventeen years past—some muddled as ancient intrusions, others undeniably authentic."

"This urgent need for clarity consumes me… How can one promise happiness to others while remaining strangers to themselves?"

"I fear entangling Isabella and the rest in my chaotic affairs… This anxiety plagues me."

Ms. Anno nodded empathetically as Lolth voiced her concerns.

"Your turmoil resonates deeply with me."

The noblewoman’s hand settled comfortingly on Lolth’s shoulder, her own decade-long flight from the Ryman Empire to the Republic of Seychelles flashing through her mind—a similar escape from familial and romantic obligations.

"Entrusting Isabella to you brings me genuine peace."

Lolth responded with another bittersweet headshake.

"My present self—if I may boast—might appear dependable, virtuous, and suitable for Isabella… Yet one dread persists…"

"Should I reclaim millennia of forgotten history, those accumulated experiences could fundamentally alter my being."

"If such transformation occurs…"

The unspoken conclusion hung palpable between them—the fear of inflicting heartache upon loved ones.

Ms. Anno countered with renewed conviction:

"Though I may not fully comprehend your nature, Lord Lolth, I know my daughter."

"Her chosen path won’t bend to sorrow from your metamorphosis. Even should you become monstrous, her grief wouldn’t equate to despair."

The noblewoman’s gaze swept their surroundings before adding:

"Moreover, I suspect your past and present selves share essential similarities."

"Your Divine Kingdom possesses… considerable charm."

A new voice abruptly joined their conversation—Lolth’s tone echoing through the chamber:

"Ah, your praise delights me! I’m rather fond of my Divine Kingdom too."

Yet this vocalization originated not from the Lolth at Anno’s side.